Indian Air Force AN-32 crashes at Jorhat air station in Assam
An Indian Air Force AN-32 transport aircraft has crashed at the Jorhat Air Force station in Assam, according to initial official confirmation. The accident happened while the aircraft was attempting to land at the airfield on Saturday. It is a developing incident, and details on the condition of those on board have not yet been confirmed.A defence spokesperson confirmed that the aircraft was involved in an accident in Jorhat district. The available information says the plane was trying to land when the crash occurred, but the circumstances remain unclear. Official clarification and investigation details are still awaited.The AN-32 is a... [Continue Reading]
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US says Tren de Aragua leader killed in Venezuela strike as Caracas confirms joint operation
Venezuela and the United States have both said that He9ctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, the leader of the Tren de Aragua gang, was killed in an operation in southern Venezuela. US President Donald Trump described the action as a "swift and lethal kinetic" strike, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said it hit a Tren de Aragua compound earlier in the week. Venezuela said the operation took place in the southeastern state of Bolivar and that clashes occurred with members of criminal groups.The latest accounts add clearer timing and location to an incident that had already been described by Washington as a... [Continue Reading]
Israel's operation 'Eternal Darkness' expands in southern Lebanon amid continued cross-border fire
Israeli forces are continuing to press north into Lebanon as the military operation known as "Eternal Darkness" expands, according to the latest reporting. Bombs have kept falling in southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah drones have continued to cross into Israeli territory. The situation remains tied to the wider conflict involving Israel, the United States and Iran, with the border area still under sustained pressure.The reporting says an 11th-hour intervention by US President Donald Trump delayed a planned Israeli assault on Beirut by about a week. It also says the renewed ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon was brokered without Hezbollah at... [Continue Reading]
Australia prepares robust pushback on US tariff proposal as ambassador starts Washington posting
Australia's new ambassador to Washington has said Canberra will "robustly" push back against a new tariff proposal from the Trump administration. Greg Moriarty said Australia may also enlist Australian businesses in the effort as the government prepares a submission to the Office of the US Trade Representative. The move comes as the proposed levy on Australian imports is still moving through a consultation process.Mr Moriarty, who has replaced Kevin Rudd in the posting, described the tariff proposal as "extremely disappointing". He said the US trade office had flagged the measure after a recent investigation into forced labour. The proposal is... [Continue Reading]
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Ukraine strikes on Russian energy infrastructure acknowledged by Putin, as damage is admitted
President Vladimir Putin has publicly acknowledged that recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, depots, pipelines and fuel supplies are causing damage to the Russian economy and society. His comments came after weeks of intensifying attacks on energy and logistics infrastructure, including what was described as a Kyiv-claimed strike on a key oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk the previous night. Putin said the attacks were intended to sow confusion, but insisted they would not divide society or cause lasting economic harm.The remarks were carried by Russia's state-owned TASS news agency and were made on Friday. Putin said Russia was recovering quickly and... [Continue Reading]
John Healey quits as UK defence secretary amid wider defence spending row
John Healey resigned as UK defence secretary after saying the government had failed to commit enough money to defence, deepening a dispute inside the Labour government over military funding. Hours later, the armed forces minister, Al Carns, and two ministerial aides also left their posts, according to the supplied report. The resignations have sharpened pressure on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at a time when the government is trying to settle its defence investment plans.Healey said the Treasury had been unwilling to provide the resources needed to defend the country at a time of rising threats. The row centres on... [Continue Reading]
US and Iran ceasefire deal prospects sharpen as Gulf states review security plans
Washington and Tehran are moving towards a long-term ceasefire agreement, according to the latest reporting, with Donald Trump saying he had cancelled new strikes on Iran because a deal was imminent. A senior Iranian official, however, said a proposed memorandum of understanding with Washington was still under review, suggesting the process has not yet been completed. The developments are being watched closely across the Gulf, where states hosting US military facilities are expected to reassess their security arrangements if the war ends.The reported diplomatic push comes after Pakistan's prime minister said a final text had been reached, adding to signs... [Continue Reading]
Toronto officer killed as probe widens over consulate shooting and possible terror links
Toronto police are investigating whether the killing of Constable Marc Pinizzotto during a dawn search in the city's west is connected to a wider network of shootings and possible international terror links. Pinizzotto, 43, a member of the emergency task force, was shot on Thursday while officers were executing search warrants linked to a number of incidents, including an early-March attack on the United States consulate in Toronto. Police said the operation involved several warrants and that the case is now being examined alongside other shootings in the city.Toronto police chief Myron Demkiw said the March consulate attack involved two... [Continue Reading]
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US to cut NATO air and naval assets in Europe, raising alliance concerns
The United States is planning to sharply reduce air and naval assets assigned to NATO operations in Europe, according to reports cited by European officials. The move would affect fighter jets, maritime reconnaissance aircraft and several major naval platforms, including an aircraft carrier and a submarine. It comes amid wider concern in Europe about Washington's commitment to the alliance's military posture.The reported changes include cutting the number of F-16 and F-15E fighter jets allocated to NATO from about 150 to 100. Maritime surveillance aircraft would also be reduced from 26 to 15, while eight aerial refuelling aircraft are expected to... [Continue Reading]
Armenian opposition seeks annulment of parliamentary result after June 7 vote
Armenia's pro-Russian Strong Armenia party has asked the country's election commission to annul the result of Sunday's parliamentary election, alleging voting irregularities. The petition was submitted on Friday in Yerevan, according to the party's representative Aram Vardevanyan. The move challenges the victory claimed by incumbent Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's governing Civil Contract party.Civil Contract won 49.8% of the vote, while Strong Armenia secured 23.2%, according to the reported results from the June 7 election. The Central Election Commission had already invalidated tallies at two polling stations on Thursday, citing a concentration of military personnel at the voting sites after polls... [Continue Reading]
DR Congo Ebola outbreak spreads into new areas as cases rise
The Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has spread into new health zones, including a crowded displacement camp, as health officials warn the situation is entering a more dangerous phase. The World Health Organization said cases are now being identified in new areas on a near-daily basis, with local transmission appearing in communities beyond the original centre of the outbreak. The outbreak was declared on 15 May and remains centred in Ituri province, but it has also reached North Kivu and South Kivu.The agency said there have now been 676 confirmed cases and 136 deaths, with a... [Continue Reading]
France accuses Israeli firm BlackCore of interfering in Scottish elections
France's cybersecurity agency has accused the Israeli tech company BlackCore of interfering in Scotland's elections earlier this year by targeting First Minister John Swinney. The agency, Viginum, said the company used proxy social media accounts to target Swinney, the Scottish National Party and the Scottish government on four occasions. It said the alleged campaign took place between 6 January and 8 May, spanning the period before and during a hard-fought election for the Scottish parliament.Viginum said its investigation identified BlackCore as the actor behind the operation, but that it remained unclear who had commissioned the company. Marc-Antoine Brillant, who heads... [Continue Reading]
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France and Germany terminate FCAS fighter jet project, dealing blow to European defence autonomy
France and Germany have ended their joint Future Combat Air System programme, a project intended to produce a sixth-generation fighter jet for Europe. French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed on Monday that the scheme is being terminated, according to the supplied material. The decision marks a significant setback for European defence cooperation and for efforts to reduce reliance on the United States for security.The move comes after years of disagreement over the project, which was designed as a landmark partnership involving France, Germany and Spain. The supplied material says the dispute centred on the role of France's Dassault Aviation, although the... [Continue Reading]
Nigeria says more than 13,000 militants killed in past year amid ongoing insecurity
Nigeria's president has said the military has killed more than 13,000 "terrorists" in the past year, in a national address delivered on Democracy Day. Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the figure reflected gains in the fight against armed groups and criminal gangs, even as the country continues to face mass kidnappings and attacks in several regions. He also said 124,000 fighters and dependants had laid down their arms since 2023 through Operation Safe Corridor.Tinubu made the remarks in a televised speech marking Democracy Day, which commemorates the end of military rule and the restoration of democracy in 1999. He said the... [Continue Reading]
Netanyahu aide Jonatan Urich indicted over alleged classified leak to German newspaper
A senior media adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been formally indicted over the alleged leaking of classified military intelligence to a German newspaper. Prosecutors say Jonatan Urich was involved in passing on a document from IDF military intelligence in September 2024, in a case they say was intended to influence the public narrative around a hostage deal. The indictment also alleges that the leak was carried out despite the material being blocked by the military censor.According to the charges, the document was an internal Hamas memo obtained by IDF intelligence and later routed through Urich and former... [Continue Reading]
Jordan Bardella visit to Brussels draws protests over migration politics
French National Rally leader Jordan Bardella has visited Brussels to strengthen ties with the Flemish nationalist party Vlaams Belang. He spoke at the Flemish Parliament, where he called for closer cooperation between like-minded parties on migration and asylum policy. The event also drew several hundred protesters outside the parliament building.According to the supplied material, Bardella used the visit to argue that coordinated action could help reshape decision-making across the European Union. He praised a decade-long alliance with Vlaams Belang and welcomed proposed EU measures that could allow asylum claims to be processed outside Europe and speed up deportations. Supporters were... [Continue Reading]
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US strikes on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz kill Indian sailors
Three commercial vessels have been struck by the US military in and near the Strait of Hormuz this week, killing three Indian sailors and intensifying a maritime confrontation linked to Iran. The latest confirmed strike came on Thursday, when US Central Command said its forces had disabled a third tanker in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly violated the blockade against Iran by attempting to transport Iranian oil. The attacks have drawn in India, which summoned a senior US diplomat in New Delhi after one of the vessels hit was a Palau-flagged ship off Oman's coast.The supplied material says... [Continue Reading]
China claims foreign agencies used sensor-fitted marine animals to monitor its waters
China's Ministry of State Security has claimed that foreign intelligence agencies are using sensor-fitted marine animals to collect sensitive data in waters around China. In a post on WeChat, the ministry said an "invisible secret war" was under way at sea and alleged that "spy turtles" and "spy fish" had been found attached to sensors while swimming in Chinese waters. It said the devices were being used to gather underwater information and transmit it overseas.The ministry said the animals were collecting marine environment data including water temperature, salinity and ocean currents in real time. It said the information was being... [Continue Reading]
South Korea court sentences ex-president Yoon to 30 years over drone operation
A court in Seoul has sentenced South Korea's former president Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison over military drone flights into North Korea. The ruling says the 2024 operation was used to heighten tensions and help justify Yoon's later declaration of martial law. It adds another major legal blow to the ousted leader and deepens a political crisis that has already reshaped South Korea's presidency.A spokesperson for the Seoul Central District Court said Yoon was given 30 years in jail for the drone case, without giving further detail. According to a summary of the judges' findings, the operation... [Continue Reading]
Pakistan warns India water restriction could be treated as act of war
Pakistan has warned that any attempt by India to restrict the flow of Indus waters could have serious consequences and may be viewed as an act of war. The warning came after India's water resources minister said New Delhi was working to ensure that "not a single drop" of water reaches Pakistan in the coming years. The exchange marks a sharp escalation in rhetoric around the Indus Waters Treaty, which India has said it has kept in abeyance.At a weekly briefing in Islamabad, foreign ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan was responding to the Indian minister's remarks on the treaty.... [Continue Reading]
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Three Indian sailors confirmed dead after US strike on tanker off Oman
Three Indian sailors have been confirmed dead after a US military strike on the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello off the coast of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel was hit on Wednesday, and the missing crew members were declared dead on Thursday. Twenty-one Indian crew members were rescued from the ship after the strike, according to the supplied material.The US military said the tanker was targeted after allegedly attempting to breach a blockade enforced by US forces in the area. Officials described the operation as part of ongoing maritime security activity near the Strait of Hormuz, one of... [Continue Reading]
UK defence funding row deepens after second ministerial resignation
The UK government is facing a deepening row over defence funding after armed forces minister Al Carns resigned on Thursday evening. His departure followed the earlier resignation of former Defence Secretary John Healey, who quit over the same dispute with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer about the military funding plan. The resignations have intensified pressure on the government as it tries to finalise its defence investment plan.Carns said in his resignation letter that the government's defence investment plan was "neither transformative enough nor sufficiently funded". He had only hours earlier suggested he might wait until the plan was finalised before... [Continue Reading]
China bars Philippines defence chief Gilberto Teodoro over South China Sea remarks
China has barred Philippines Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and members of his family from entering the country, in a fresh escalation in the long-running dispute over the South China Sea. The ban also covers Hong Kong and Macau, according to a statement from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Beijing said Chinese organisations and individuals must not carry out transactions, cooperation or other activities with Teodoro, his wife or children.The move was announced on Thursday and was linked by Beijing to comments Teodoro has made about China's claims in the disputed waterway. The ministry said his rhetoric "undermines China's legitimate interests... [Continue Reading]
Indian Navy removes unexploded warhead from Kochi-bound tanker after Oman incident
The Indian Navy says it has recovered and safely disposed of an unexploded missile warhead from the crude oil tanker MT Olympic Life after the vessel reported damage off the coast of Oman and continued towards Kochi. The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker was on passage from Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates to Kochi when it reported an explosion in its hull on 26 May. The Navy said the vessel later reported the presence of unexploded ordnance on board as it kept sailing towards the Indian port.According to the Navy, the operation was launched after information was received through the Information... [Continue Reading]
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Ukraine drone strikes cut Russia's Crimea supply route by 71%
Ukrainian forces have sharply increased drone strikes on the R-280 highway, a key Russian supply corridor in occupied southern Ukraine, according to the supplied report. The road, which Russia calls the Novorossiya route, links Rostov-on-Don with occupied areas including Mariupol and Melitopol before reaching Crimea. The report says military cargo traffic on the route fell by 71% in two weeks, with the road now described as Moscow's main land corridor for supplying forces in the south.The supplied material says the highway has been almost entirely closed to civilian traffic since late May. It also says video footage from drivers shows... [Continue Reading]
Iran threatens SpaceX and Starlink-linked assets in West Asia
Iran's military has said it will consider Elon Musk's companies, including SpaceX's Starlink internet service, as potential targets in West Asia, according to Iranian state media. The warning was framed as part of Tehran's retaliation against renewed US attacks. A regional Starlink ground station was specifically mentioned as a possible target.The report said Iran was targeting "all interests related to economic holdings managed by Elon Musk in West Asia". It cited an "informed source" saying the Islamic Republic reserves the right to attack facilities linked to Musk-managed holdings in the region and in occupied territories. The warning appeared around the... [Continue Reading]
Pentagon placed under shelter-in-place after air-quality alert
The Pentagon was placed under a shelter-in-place order on Thursday after officials reported a hazardous materials incident and an air-quality issue inside the building. Multiple floors and corridors were locked down, and people were being evacuated as a precaution. The disruption affected one of the most sensitive US defence facilities and prompted an immediate security response.Arlington County fire and rescue officials said the incident was being treated as a hazardous materials matter. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said systems inside the building had detected an air-quality issue that required precautionary measures until its significance could be determined. He said the department... [Continue Reading]
Russia begins building new military base near Finland border
Russia has begun constructing a new military base close to Finland's eastern border, according to aerial imagery and reporting published on 11 June 2026. The site is described as being about 100 miles from the NATO border and appears to be in the early stages of development. Images show a dozen new barracks under construction after forest clearing began in late 2025.The reported capacity of the base is estimated at between 4,000 and 6,000 personnel. That figure was attributed to Marko Eklund, a military expert and former Finnish intelligence officer. The same reporting said the project is the first such... [Continue Reading]
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Two killed and houses burned in Manipur village attack after bodies of abducted men recovered
Two people were killed and at least six houses were burned in an attack on a Kuki-Zo village in Manipur, as tensions escalated after the recovery of the bodies of six abducted Naga men. The violence was reported in Kultuh, a small village near the Indo-Myanmar border, in the early hours of Thursday. The incident came after several days of rising anger and gatherings in Imphal linked to the handling of the bodies.Police had announced on Wednesday evening that joint security forces had recovered six bodies believed to be those of men abducted on May 13. Search operations for the... [Continue Reading]
US strikes another tanker near Oman amid Iranian port blockade
US forces have struck and disabled another oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman as part of their blockade of Iranian ports, according to US Central Command. The latest incident was reported on Thursday morning near Sohar, Oman, where the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre said a tanker fire had been reported 21 nautical miles northeast of the port. The vessel was said to be attempting to move oil through the Gulf of Oman when it was hit.CENTCOM said a US aircraft fired two Hellfire missiles into the engine room of the Guinea-Bissau-flagged tanker after the crew repeatedly failed to... [Continue Reading]
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Pakistan military helicopter crash in Muzaffarabad kills at least 22
A Pakistani army Mi-17 helicopter crashed during take-off near Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, killing at least 22 military personnel. The aircraft went down on Wednesday near the regional capital, and videos showed thick black smoke rising from behind buildings after the impact. The military said the helicopter crashed because of a technical fault, and a board of inquiry has been ordered.The military's media wing said the crash happened during take-off and that all personnel on board were killed. Security sources told news agencies that the death toll was 22, although the army has not publicly confirmed that figure. Those reported... [Continue Reading]
US sea drone used in helicopter rescue off Oman after Apache crash near Strait of Hormuz
A US military sea drone was used to rescue two crew members from a downed US Army helicopter off the coast of Oman, in what officials described as the first publicly known rescue mission carried out by an unmanned vessel. The incident took place near the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow and heavily watched waterway at the centre of regional security concerns. The two soldiers were recovered within about two hours and are in stable condition, according to US Central Command.The military has identified the uncrewed vessel as a Corsair sea drone, a 24-foot craft made by a Texas-based company... [Continue Reading]
Vance says Netanyahu has 'gotten some things wrong' as US-Israel strain deepens
US Vice-President JD Vance has said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has "certainly gotten some things wrong", in comments that add to signs of strain between Washington and Jerusalem. Vance said Netanyahu "aggressively asserts the interests of his country" but that those interests are not always aligned with those of the United States. The remarks come as the two allies face renewed pressure over fighting involving Iran and Israel's operation in Lebanon.Vance made the comments in an interview due to air on Sunday, according to the supplied material. He did not give specific examples of where he thought Netanyahu had... [Continue Reading]
Trump says US helped move oil through Strait of Hormuz as reports say operation was already public
US President Donald Trump has said the United States secretly helped move more than 100 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that is central to global energy trade. He said the operation involved commercial vessels travelling at night without lights, and suggested Iran was unaware of the effort. The remarks were made in the Oval Office and later repeated in a social media post.The latest reporting says the operation was not entirely secret, and had already been publicly disclosed weeks earlier. Citing a senior US military official, one report said... [Continue Reading]
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Taiwan says Chinese vessels entered disputed waters near Taiping Island
Taiwan says two Chinese vessels entered prohibited waters around Taiping Island in the South China Sea and remained there for about 15 minutes before being expelled by the coast guard. The island, also known as Itu Aba, is controlled by Taiwan but claimed by China, the Philippines and Vietnam. Taiwan described the incident as a fresh example of grey-zone harassment in waters it says are restricted.The coast guard said the vessels "openly intruded" into the area on Thursday and that the prohibited zone extends four kilometres from shore. In a statement, it said the ships were removed after the brief... [Continue Reading]
UK, Australia and Canada launch £4m peace fund for Israel-Palestine conflict
Britain, Australia and Canada have announced a joint peace fund aimed at supporting a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. The initiative was unveiled on Thursday and will provide £1m from each country, according to a statement from the UK foreign ministry. The fund is intended to back grassroots projects and humanitarian support linked to Palestinians, while also promoting dialogue between communities.The announcement said the money will go to new and existing local projects, with a particular focus on youth groups, civil society organisations and women. It also said the fund will support long-term peacebuilding efforts and help address what... [Continue Reading]
Iran claims retaliatory strikes on US bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain
Iran said it carried out retaliatory strikes on US military targets in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain after recent American attacks on Iranian targets. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it launched two waves of operations and claimed to have hit 18 US military targets in Kuwait and Bahrain, including sites it identified as Ali and Ahmad Ahmad air force bases. It also said it struck and destroyed Sheikh Isa air base, while separately claiming it fired 12 ballistic missiles at the US command centre at Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan.The claims were made on Thursday, June 11, and were carried... [Continue Reading]
BHP Port Hedland workers back industrial action after months of talks
Unionised workers at BHP's Port Hedland operations in Western Australia have voted in favour of protected industrial action, raising the prospect of disruption at the country's largest bulk export port. The vote covers maintenance workers in the Pilbara port town, about 1,600km north of Perth, and could lead to stoppages as soon as next week. The development comes after months of failed negotiations between BHP and unions over a new employment agreement.The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union said 90% of its members at the site backed the proposed work stoppages. Results from a separate Electrical Trades Union ballot were expected later... [Continue Reading]
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IAEA board passes US-backed resolution demanding Iran account for enriched uranium stocks
The governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency has passed a US-backed resolution calling on Iran to provide complete information on its enriched uranium stocks and allow inspectors access to verify them. The vote took place on Wednesday at a closed-door meeting of the 35-member board in Vienna. Iran condemned the move as politically motivated and warned it could complicate ceasefire talks with the United States.Diplomats told news agencies the resolution passed with 21 votes in favour. Russia, China and Niger voted against it, while 10 countries abstained. The draft was submitted by the United States, the United Kingdom,... [Continue Reading]
Indian crew affected as tanker fires and strikes reported off Oman
A series of incidents involving vessels with Indian crew has been reported off Oman, with the latest case involving MT Jalveer near Shinas port. The ship was reported on fire on Thursday, and five crew members were rescued and taken to Oman. The Indian embassy in Oman said it was monitoring the situation and coordinating with local authorities for further details.The latest report comes after three Indian sailors were killed earlier in the week when MT Settebello was struck in a US military action, according to the supplied reports. Another vessel, MT Marivex, was also attacked on Monday. The rows... [Continue Reading]
OpenAI says China-based actors used ChatGPT in influence operation targeting US AI data centres
OpenAI has said it banned a cluster of accounts it believes were likely based in China after finding they used ChatGPT in a covert influence operation aimed at stoking opposition to AI data centres in the United States. The company said the activity was designed to exploit existing public concerns about electricity prices and to manipulate debate about American AI. It also said a separate cluster of accounts produced material about US tariffs and competition with China.In a research report released on Wednesday, OpenAI said the accounts generated social media comments and images blaming data centres for rising electricity bills... [Continue Reading]
US inflation rises to three-year high as energy costs climb
US consumer prices rose at their fastest pace in three years in May, with inflation reaching 4.2%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The increase, from 3.8% in April, was driven largely by higher energy costs and petrol prices linked to the war in Iran. It was the third month in a row that the Consumer Price Index has increased, adding to pressure on households and reinforcing concerns about how quickly the shock is feeding through to the wider economy.The latest figures were accompanied by unusually direct political comments from President Donald Trump, who said at the White House... [Continue Reading]
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UK government plans tighter immigration checks, including in Northern Ireland, after Belfast attack
The British government is planning to step up immigration checks, including operations on Common Travel Area routes in Northern Ireland, after concerns were raised in the wake of Monday's attack in Belfast. The discussions have involved Stormont and Westminster, with officials focusing on how to detect and arrest people in the country illegally. The move comes as ministers face renewed scrutiny over cross-border movement between Ireland and Britain.Northern Ireland Secretary of State Hilary Benn said Irish authorities had questions to answer after it emerged that the alleged perpetrator in Monday's knife attack entered the island of Ireland at Dublin before... [Continue Reading]
US says it is preparing strikes on key facilities in Iran
The United States says it is preparing to launch strikes on what it described as key facilities in Iran, as military pressure on the country intensifies. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth made the remarks in Tampa, Florida, as he left the headquarters of US Central Command. He said the planned attacks would be strong and clear, and suggested they could continue into a second day.Hegseth said he had just reviewed the plans for Wednesday night's attack with Admiral Bradley Cooper, the CENTCOM commander. He linked the operation to ongoing negotiations for a permanent ceasefire and echoed President Donald Trump's warning that... [Continue Reading]
Three Indians missing after commercial ship attacked off Oman coast
At least three Indian crew members are missing after a commercial vessel, Settebello, was attacked off the coast of Oman. The incident has prompted a search and rescue operation involving Omani authorities and Indian officials. According to the information confirmed so far, 21 Indian crew members from the 24 on board have been rescued.India said its Ministry of External Affairs summoned the US charge d'affaires in New Delhi after the attack, which it said was carried out by American forces. The ministry said the attack took place earlier in the day and that its embassy in Oman was closely monitoring... [Continue Reading]
Hegseth warns Cuba against acquiring weapons that could reach Guantanamo
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned Cuba against seeking military weapons that could reach the US base at Guantanamo Bay or the American mainland. He made the remarks during a visit to Guantanamo Bay on Wednesday, sharpening the tone of Washington's pressure on Havana. The warning comes as the Trump administration continues to threaten possible military intervention in the Caribbean island nation.Hegseth said it would be unwise for the Cuban government to try to procure or gain access to weapons capable of striking the base or the US homeland. He added that such a move would invite confrontation that... [Continue Reading]
US defence chief warns Cuba over weapons that could reach Guantánamo
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned Cuba against acquiring weapons that could reach the United States or the US naval base at Guantánamo Bay. He made the remarks during a visit to the base in south-eastern Cuba, speaking to US troops and framing the issue as a direct warning to Havana. The comments add to an already tense security relationship between Washington and Cuba.Hegseth said it would be unwise for the Cuban government to try to procure or gain access to weapons capable of reaching the base or the American homeland. He warned that such a move would invite... [Continue Reading]
Kenya protests over US Ebola quarantine centre turn deadly amid court challenge
Police in Kenya have used tear gas and heavy deployments to disperse protesters opposing a planned US Ebola quarantine facility, as clashes in the town of Nanyuki turned deadly. Demonstrators set small fires and threw objects during the unrest, while residents voiced fears that the centre could expose local communities to Ebola. The dispute has become a major public health and political controversy in the country, where no confirmed Ebola cases have been recorded.According to the supplied material, at least three protesters have died during demonstrations over the past two weeks. More than 10 people have been detained as tensions... [Continue Reading]
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One dead and two missing after missile strike on tanker near Oman
A tanker was struck by a missile near Oman on 10 June, leaving one person dead and two others missing. The incident took place in waters close to the Omani coast, according to the supplied report, and has raised immediate concern over maritime security in a strategically important shipping area. No further details were provided in the source about the vessel's flag, ownership or exact position at the time of the strike.The confirmed toll at this stage is one fatality and two missing crew members. The report did not identify the dead person or say whether the missing individuals were... [Continue Reading]
Poland considers revoking Zelensky honour after Ukraine names unit after wartime group
Ukraine is facing a fresh diplomatic dispute with Poland after Kyiv named a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, a wartime group that remains deeply controversial in Poland. The move has prompted Polish President Karol Nawrocki to consider revoking Volodymyr Zelensky's Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest state honour. The row has widened into a public argument over history, memory and wartime responsibility, with criticism coming from across the Polish political spectrum.The dispute began when Zelensky issued a decree late last month naming a military unit of the Special Operations Forces after the UPA, which existed in the... [Continue Reading]
Ukraine and Latvia sign drone cooperation deal in Tallinn
Ukraine and Latvia have signed a drone cooperation agreement on the sidelines of a summit in Tallinn, in a fresh sign of expanding defence ties between Kyiv and European partners. The deal was announced after talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs during a meeting of Ukraine and the Nordic-Baltic states in the Estonian capital. Zelenskyy said the agreement would strengthen joint defence and co-production, while Latvian officials said it would bring Ukrainian expertise into Latvia.The signing took place on Tuesday, shortly after Zelenskyy returned from London, where he held talks with the leaders of... [Continue Reading]
Inpex seeks urgent orders to halt strike action at Darwin LNG facility
Inpex has gone to the Fair Work Commission seeking urgent orders to stop strike action at its Ichthys LNG facility in Darwin. The company says the industrial action could disrupt production and affect gas supply. A hearing has been scheduled for Friday.The move follows an escalation announced by the Offshore Alliance, which says more than 400 workers will increase protected industrial action. The alliance, made up of the Australian Workers' Union and the Maritime Union of Australia, said members had endorsed longer stoppages at the Darwin onshore and offshore facilities from Thursday. Inpex has argued that the disruption would be... [Continue Reading]
Hundreds of former European officials urge EU to suspend Israel trade access
More than 460 former European political figures have called on the European Union to take tougher action against Israel over its military operations in Gaza and the West Bank. The appeal was set out in an editorial published ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg next week and an EU summit in Brussels. The signatories include former Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar, former tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and former president of the European Parliament Pat Cox.The group said the EU should suspend Israel's preferential trade access under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. It argued that such a move would affect... [Continue Reading]
Investigation says coltan from M23-held mines in eastern DRC may have reached global brands
A new investigation has said coltan from mines in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo controlled by the M23 militia may have entered supply chains linked to major international brands. The report focuses on Rubaya in North Kivu province, a major coltan site that it says has been occupied by M23 for two years. It alleges the mineral was smuggled across the border into Rwanda before being moved on through exporters used by large firms.The investigation says Amazon, Ericsson and Sony are among companies that may have sourced the mineral, while Microsoft, Toyota, Nvidia and Vodafone are also named as... [Continue Reading]
Australia urged to audit VIQ Solutions contracts after court file access breach and agency use expands
Thirteen Australian government agencies are now said to be caught up in an expanding scandal involving potential data breaches linked to transcription company VIQ Solutions. The issue centres on an earlier breach of the company's Commonwealth contract with the Federal Court, after highly sensitive court files were reportedly accessed offshore in India. The company is now being wound down, and the widening use of its services across government has raised fresh concern about the handling of sensitive material.According to the supplied material, the breach was identified earlier this year and involved access to Federal Court files outside Australia. The company... [Continue Reading]
Iran and Israel exchange fire as strikes hit Tehran and Bandar-e Mahshahr
Iran and Israel have exchanged fire in a fresh escalation that has widened concern across the region. The latest reported strikes hit Tehran and other Iranian cities, while a petrochemical complex in Bandar-e Mahshahr was also struck. The developments came after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched missiles at Israel overnight in retaliation for an attack on the southern suburbs of Beirut.According to the supplied report, people in Tehran heard loud bangs before noon on Monday and again in the early hours of the morning. The report says the Israeli military struck Tehran and other cities, and that the IRGC... [Continue Reading]
West Bengal CID searches TMC offices in Kolkata during alleged signature forgery probe
The West Bengal CID searched the Trinamool Congress central office in Kolkata and the office of party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday as part of an investigation into an alleged Assembly signature forgery case. The searches took place in Kolkata's Kalighat area and on Camac Street, according to the supplied report. The party said the timing of the operation was politically motivated.The report says the searches were carried out while party chief Mamata Banerjee was in Delhi meeting Congress Parliamentary chairperson Sonia Gandhi at her residence. The meeting lasted about an hour and, according to TMC sources, was... [Continue Reading]
Iran signals June funeral procession for Ali Khamenei after repeated delays
Iranian organisers have signalled that the funeral procession for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei could take place in June, according to state media reports. The ceremony has not yet been held, and the burial is expected to follow in Mashhad, Khamenei's birthplace in northeastern Iran. Previous reporting has said the procession is also planned to pass through Tehran and Qom.The committee overseeing the arrangements said the timing may fall after the 10th day of the first month in the Islamic calendar, which has been reported as likely to be June 25 or 26. The organisers said there had been extensive... [Continue Reading]
India condemns Pakistan airstrikes in Afghanistan at UN Security Council
India has condemned Pakistani military airstrikes in Afghanistan during a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in the country, accusing Islamabad of causing civilian casualties and violating Afghan sovereignty. India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Harish Parvathaneni, said the strikes were not counter-terrorism and described them as a threat to regional peace and stability. The remarks were made with Pakistan present at the meeting, adding to the diplomatic sensitivity of the exchange.Parvathaneni said Pakistan's campaign of military airstrikes against Afghanistan had caused significant civilian suffering. He said the attacks were a violation of international law, the UN Charter... [Continue Reading]
Xi Jinping meets Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang after seven years
Chinese President Xi Jinping has met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang, in a visit described in the supplied material as Xi's first to North Korea in seven years. The talks took place on Tuesday and were accompanied by symbolic events including a tree planting, a performance of Chinese and North Korean songs and a banquet hosted by Kim. Both sides said they wanted to deepen cooperation, but the material provided says there was no mention of North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.According to the supplied rows, the two leaders agreed to expand cooperation across politics, economy and culture,... [Continue Reading]
At least 37 killed as powerful Mindanao earthquake displaces tens of thousands
A powerful magnitude-7.8 earthquake off the coast of southern Mindanao has killed at least 37 people in the Philippines, with rescue teams still searching collapsed buildings for survivors. The quake struck early on Monday and hit coastal communities around General Santos and nearby areas hardest. Authorities say the disaster has also displaced tens of thousands of people and caused widespread damage to homes and public buildings.The Philippines Office of Civil Defence said four people are officially listed as missing, while search teams continue to check damaged structures for anyone trapped inside. The Philippines Coast Guard has deployed 150 responders, including... [Continue Reading]
Philippines earthquake leaves at least 41 dead in Mindanao as aftershocks continue
The Philippines is continuing emergency and recovery operations after a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao on 9 June. Officials said at least 41 people were killed, more than 450 were injured and thousands were forced from their homes. The quake hit southern parts of the country and caused damage in General Santos City, Sarangani and other nearby areas.Authorities said the earthquake triggered tsunami warnings across parts of the Pacific before they were later lifted. More than 450 aftershocks had been recorded since the main tremor, including several measuring between magnitude 6.5 and 6.7. Those continuing... [Continue Reading]
Libya migrant kidnapping network accused of torture and organ-removal threats
An investigation has exposed a kidnapping and extortion network in Libya that allegedly targeted more than 300 Iraqi Kurdish migrants trying to reach the United Kingdom. One captive is reported dead, while dozens more remain missing after being held by a militia and threatened with forced organ removal unless ransom was paid. The case adds to long-running concerns about abuse on migration routes through Libya, where smuggling and trafficking networks have operated amid years of instability.According to the investigation, the migrants were young Iraqi Kurdish men who were intercepted in Libya and then held for ransom. Families were allegedly told... [Continue Reading]
Philippines quake death toll rises to 37 as rescuers search collapsed building
Rescue teams in the southern Philippines are searching for survivors after a powerful offshore earthquake killed at least 37 people and injured about 400. The magnitude 7.8 quake struck off Sarangani province shortly before 7:40am local time on Monday, with the hardest-hit area reported in General Santos on Mindanao. In the city, rescuers were still working through the rubble of a collapsed commercial building that housed a grocery store, where two people were believed to remain trapped.Officials said two survivors had been pulled from the debris, while a third person was found dead at the site. Scanners had not detected... [Continue Reading]
India: Preliminary probe says trapped gases caused deadly blast at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant
A preliminary inquiry has said a deadly explosion at the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd plant in Visakhapatnam, in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, was caused by the sudden release of entrapped gases from liquid steel. The blast killed eight workers at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, also known as RINL, and sent molten metal onto people working below. The incident happened on Monday afternoon during casting operations at the steel complex.According to the investigation report by the chief inspector of factories, the explosion took place at about 4.15 pm while a full steel ladle was being rotated and centred.... [Continue Reading]
India defends Great Nicobar mega-project as strategic maritime asset
India's proposed Great Nicobar Islands project is being defended by defence sources as a strategically important maritime and economic development near key international shipping routes. The Rs 81,000-crore plan includes an International Container Transshipment Port, a greenfield airfield, a Naval Air Station, a township and a power plant. It has drawn criticism from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who described it as a major scam and a grave crime against natural and tribal heritage.According to the defence sources, the project is intended to strengthen India's maritime posture in the Indo-Pacific and improve its ability to monitor sea lanes, support operations and... [Continue Reading]
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan suspended pending member-state vote over misconduct probe
The International Criminal Court has suspended chief prosecutor Karim Khan and referred him to disciplinary proceedings over sexual misconduct allegations. The decision was taken by the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties, the court's governing body, and means the matter will now go before all 125 member states in a special session. Khan has rejected the move and denied wrongdoing.The bureau said its decision followed a report from a United Nations investigation, advice from an ad hoc panel of judicial experts and written submissions. It said the documentation would remain confidential and added that the suspension was not an... [Continue Reading]
France and Germany terminate FCAS fighter jet project after leadership dispute
France and Germany have terminated their joint Future Combat Air System programme after failing to resolve a dispute over leadership and control. The decision is a major setback for one of Europe's most ambitious defence-industrial projects and comes as European governments face renewed pressure to strengthen their own military capabilities. The French presidential office confirmed on Monday that the project was being terminated, ending a plan that had been intended to deliver a sixth-generation fighter jet and related systems.The FCAS project was launched in 2017 and later brought in Spain, with the aim of replacing France's Rafale jets and the... [Continue Reading]
US congressman calls for new probe into 1967 USS Liberty attack
A Republican member of the US House of Representatives has called for a new investigation into Israel's 1967 attack on the USS Liberty, a US Navy ship that was struck during the Six-Day War. Thomas Massie used a speech on the House floor to urge the government to reopen the case and to recognise the ship's survivors. The remarks came on the 59th anniversary of the attack and were delivered in the presence of survivors.According to the supporting material, the attack killed 34 service members and injured 171 others. Massie said the survivors should receive closure and called for a... [Continue Reading]
WHO chief praises Uganda response as Ebola outbreak continues in DRC border region
The World Health Organization's director-general has praised Uganda's response to the Ebola outbreak affecting the border area with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while urging Kampala to reconsider restrictions on the frontier. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Uganda had responded promptly and capably and expressed confidence that the epidemic could be brought under control. He made the remarks during a visit to Uganda on Monday, as the outbreak continued in eastern Congo's Ituri province, which sits on the border.Tedros said border screening in Uganda had helped detect cases arriving from neighbouring DRC, and that the country's surveillance, testing and case... [Continue Reading]
US jet fuel costs surge as Iran tensions raise Strait of Hormuz disruption fears
Jet fuel prices in the United States have risen sharply as tensions between the United States and Iran intensify, adding fresh pressure to airlines ahead of the peak summer travel season. The latest market move is being linked to fears that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could be disrupted. That waterway is a key route for global energy shipments, so even the prospect of interference can affect fuel markets quickly.The International Air Transport Association said jet fuel availability is threatened and that prices have roughly doubled since late February. In its annual report published on Sunday, the group said... [Continue Reading]
SIPRI warns nuclear powers are expanding and modernising arsenals
The world's nine nuclear-armed states are upgrading and expanding their arsenals, according to a new report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The study says the trend is increasing the risk of escalation and miscalculation at a time of heightened global tensions. It also says most of the countries deployed new nuclear-armed or nuclear-capable weapon systems last year.The report estimates that the nine nuclear powers - China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States - possessed 12,187 nuclear warheads as of January this year. Of those, about 9,745 were held in military... [Continue Reading]
IAEA and Western powers press Iran to resume nuclear cooperation
The head of the UN nuclear watchdog has called on Iran to re-engage with inspections of its nuclear sites, as the United States and European powers push for more information on the country's enriched uranium. The appeal came during a quarterly meeting of the agency's Board of Governors on Monday. It follows renewed concern over the state of Iran's nuclear infrastructure after last year's strikes on its facilities.Rafael Grossi said it was "very important" that Tehran re-engage so the International Atomic Energy Agency can continue oversight of the programme. In a written statement, he urged Iran to work constructively to... [Continue Reading]
Iran launches retaliatory air attack on Israel after Beirut suburb strike
Iran has said it launched an air attack on Israel in response to an Israeli strike on the Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh, in a sharp escalation that has widened the regional confrontation. The Iranian operation, named Nasr, was announced after several hours of exchanges of fire between the two sides. Iranian authorities said the attack was carried out from multiple cities, including Kermanshah in western Iran, and that it was intended to show offensive capability rather than simply absorb strikes and respond later.According to the supplied material, the Israeli strike on Dahiyeh targeted a command centre of Hezbollah, the Lebanese... [Continue Reading]
SIPRI says India's nuclear stockpile rose to about 190 warheads
India's nuclear stockpile is estimated to have risen to about 190 warheads as of January 2026, according to a new report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The report also says India has deployed 12 nuclear warheads at present and may be changing how it handles some of its weapons during peacetime. It suggests the country could be moving towards mating some warheads with missiles, rather than keeping them fully separate from launchers.The assessment says India's total stockpile was about 180 warheads a year earlier, indicating a modest increase over 2025. It also says India continued developing new types... [Continue Reading]
Iran says it has halted attacks on Israel after first exchange of fire since truce
Iran's armed forces say they have halted military operations against Israel after the two countries exchanged strikes for the first time since April's ceasefire. The Khatam ol-Anbiya command said Iran had delivered a "painful response" to Israel and warned against continued attacks, including in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces are fighting the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah. The latest exchange has raised fresh doubts about whether the truce can hold and whether diplomacy can prevent a wider regional escalation.The immediate sequence began after Iran launched about 30 missiles at Israel in retaliation for a strike in Beirut on Sunday. Israel then responded... [Continue Reading]
Iran, Israel and Houthi strikes raise pressure on fragile ceasefire
Iran and Israel have exchanged strikes in a renewed escalation that has put a fragile ceasefire under severe strain. The latest fighting unfolded overnight and into the day after Iran launched missiles at Tel Aviv, according to the supplied report. Israel then carried out its own offensive against Iran, while Yemen's Houthi rebels also launched strikes at Israel and threatened Israeli-affiliated vessels in the Red Sea.The report says Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps claimed a retaliatory attack on a petrochemical plant in northern Israel after Israeli strikes on what it described as several targets at an Iranian petrochemical facility. The... [Continue Reading]
Russian security chief claims West may use former ISIL fighters against Iran
Russia's Federal Security Service chief has claimed that Western intelligence services are trying to use former ISIL fighters as proxy forces against Iran. Alexander Bortnikov made the allegation at a meeting of intelligence officials from eight ex-Soviet nations on 26 May, according to state media cited in the supplied material. He did not name any specific Western country and did not provide evidence to support the claim.The remarks were reported on 8 June and framed as part of a wider warning from Bortnikov about militant networks linked to Syria. He said Western intelligence services "don't give up on their attempts... [Continue Reading]
Iran says it launched Operation Nasr and struck Israeli air bases
Iran says it has launched Operation Nasr and targeted two Israeli air bases in a fresh exchange of fire with Israel. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps said the operation hit the Nevatim and Tel Nof air bases, describing the strikes as retaliation for Israeli attacks on radar sites in three areas of Iran. The latest round of strikes marks another sharp escalation in the conflict and follows a fragile ceasefire that had been in place since April.According to the supplied material, the IRGC Aerospace Force said it carried out the missile fire and framed the operation as a response to... [Continue Reading]
At least 19 dead after magnitude 7.8 quake off Mindanao in the Philippines
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake off the coast of Mindanao in the southern Philippines has killed at least 19 people, injured many more and triggered tsunami alerts across the region. The quake struck on Monday at 07:37 local time, or 23:37 GMT on Sunday, and was felt across several provinces in the south. Buildings collapsed in multiple areas, including General Santos, and emergency officials continued to assess the scale of the damage.Officials said at least 134 people were reportedly injured across South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos, although those figures still need to be verified by the national disaster... [Continue Reading]
US weighs Chagos Islands deal amid Diego Garcia security talks
US officials are reportedly considering options to strike a deal over the Chagos Islands that would bypass the United Kingdom and secure the future of Diego Garcia, the joint US-UK military base in the Indian Ocean. The discussions come as Washington weighs wider regional security concerns linked to the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran. The proposal is said to be one of several under consideration by the White House.According to the supplied material, the latest option was put forward by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and presented to President Donald Trump. It is not believed to be the... [Continue Reading]
Satellite images show destruction at Iranian nuclear and oil sites after US-Israeli strikes
Satellite imagery has revealed damage at a series of sites in Iran and across the Gulf after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran 100 days ago. The material says the full scale of destruction has been difficult to assess because imagery restrictions limited access to recent pictures. It adds that before those restrictions took hold, commercial satellites captured a broad view of the damage at nuclear, military and oil infrastructure.The supplied row says the Natanz complex in Isfahan province, Iran's largest uranium enrichment facility, was struck twice in June 2025, first by Israel and then by the... [Continue Reading]
At least 10 dead after migrant boat capsizes near Malta
At least 10 people have died after a boat thought to be carrying migrants capsized near Malta, according to the Italian coast guard. The vessel had set off from the Libyan coast and was carrying about 60 people when the incident happened. Malta requested assistance in the search and rescue operation after the capsizing was reported, with people said to be in the water.The coast guard said an Italian patrol boat recovered ten bodies and that the search in the area was continuing on Sunday afternoon. A fishing vessel operating nearby recovered about 48 people alive, according to the same... [Continue Reading]
US court delays sentencing in Nikhil Gupta case over Pannun assassination plot
Sentencing for Nikhil Gupta, the Indian national who pleaded guilty in a US court in connection with a plot to kill Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has been postponed to 25 September. Court records show the hearing had originally been scheduled for 29 May. Gupta's lawyer said the defence wants more time to review case material and argue for the "lowest possible" sentence.Gupta pleaded guilty in February in a case that could carry a sentence of 19 to 23 years, according to the material provided. His New York-based counsel, Isabelle Kirshner, said the defence had received a large amount of... [Continue Reading]
Zelenskyy meets Starmer, Macron and Merz in London after Chornobyl drone strike
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Downing Street on Sunday night, hours after a Russian drone strike damaged a storage centre for spent nuclear fuel near the Chornobyl nuclear power plant. The meeting brought together the leaders of the UK, France and Germany, often referred to as the E3, as they discussed continued support for Ukraine. It also came after a week of heightened hostilities and renewed pressure on diplomatic efforts around the war.The strike near Chornobyl was reported to have hit a storage centre for... [Continue Reading]
India and Indonesia expand strategic talks ahead of likely Modi visit to Jakarta
India and Indonesia have held high-level talks in New Delhi focused on defence, maritime security, digital connectivity and infrastructure, as both sides look to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership. The discussions were co-chaired by India's external affairs minister and his Indonesian counterpart at the 8th India-Indonesia Joint Commission Meeting. The ministers also discussed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's likely visit to Jakarta next month.According to the confirmed details, the meeting covered a wide range of bilateral issues, including political and security cooperation, trade and investment, health, pharmaceuticals, fertiliser, critical minerals, tourism, education, culture and people-to-people exchanges. Both sides also exchanged views... [Continue Reading]
UK submarine fleet protecting nuclear assets removed from service for repairs
The UK's fleet of Astute-class submarines has been removed from service after being found unfit for use, according to the supplied report. The vessels are used to help protect submarines carrying Trident missiles, making the issue a matter of immediate national-security concern. The report says all five Astute-class boats have been docked and are now undergoing repair work.The incident was reported on 7 June 2026 and comes amid heightened concern in London about threats from Russia. The UK's military chief said on Friday that the threats facing the country are greater than during the Cold War, according to the report.... [Continue Reading]
Nigeria army says 360 abductees freed after Boko Haram clashes in Borno
The Nigerian army says it has freed 360 people abducted by Boko Haram in southern Borno state after an operation in the Mandara mountains. The rescue took place in a Boko Haram stronghold in the north-east, according to military statements cited on Sunday. The captives were described as men, women and children taken from different communities in Borno, and the army said they were moved to safe locations for medical care and humanitarian support.The military said the operation was intelligence-led and targeted fighters holding hundreds of people under harsh conditions. Army spokesperson Haruna Sani said two infants died during captivity,... [Continue Reading]
Trump rejects upfront Iran sanctions relief and says US would destroy uranium stockpile
US President Donald Trump has rejected the idea of unfreezing Iranian assets or lifting sanctions upfront as part of any deal with Tehran. In comments made during an interview, he said any sanctions relief would come only after an agreement was reached and Iran had "behave[d]". He also said the US would seize and destroy Iran's stockpile of more than 400 kg of highly enriched uranium.Trump said sanctions relief would follow, not precede, any agreement. "Comes after. Yeah.If they behave, if they do a good job, we start talking," he said. On the uranium stockpile, he said: "We'll take it... [Continue Reading]
Pentagon said to raise Israel spying threat assessment to critical
The Pentagon's intelligence arm has reportedly raised its assessment of the espionage threat posed by Israel to the highest internal category of "critical". The change, reported by US media and attributed to current and former American intelligence and defence officials, is said to reflect concern about Israeli efforts to collect information on US military personnel, government officials and policy discussions. The reports place the development in the context of tensions over Washington's approach to Iran and disagreement with Israel over how the conflict should end.According to the reporting, the upgrade was made by the Defense Intelligence Agency, which sits within... [Continue Reading]
Canadian PM Mark Carney to visit Dublin and Mayo before G7 summit
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is due to visit Ireland next week for meetings in Dublin and Mayo before travelling on to France for the 2026 G7 Leaders' summit. The trip will include talks with Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Dublin and a separate meeting with President Catherine Connolly in Mayo. It will be the first bilateral visit to Ireland by a Canadian prime minister in nearly a decade.Carney's office said the visit will focus on deepening Canada-Ireland ties and expanding cooperation across agri-food, digital innovation, artificial intelligence, pharmaceuticals and climate. The itinerary also has a personal dimension, with his office... [Continue Reading]
Greek authorities arrest Palestinian-origin man in Crete over alleged terror plot
Greek authorities have arrested a 37-year-old foreign national of Palestinian origin in Crete over alleged links to Hamas and suspected planning for a terrorist attack. The arrest took place at midnight on Saturday in a joint operation by the National Intelligence Service and the Counter-Terrorism Directorate for Special Crimes of Violence. Investigators say the case involves possible preparations for an attack on Israeli-interest targets, with a cruise ship among the reported possibilities.Authorities believe the suspect had contact with people recently arrested in Cyprus in separate terrorism investigations. During searches at residences in Crete and Athens, officers seized mobile phones, a... [Continue Reading]
Taiwan dispatches ships after Chinese coast guard operation near Pratas Islands
Taiwan said on Sunday it had dispatched vessels to respond to a Chinese maritime operation in waters east of the island near the Pratas Islands. The Taiwan Coast Guard said the Chinese ships were monitored throughout the incident and that it sent the necessary vessels to respond appropriately. Taipei said the operation amounted to a violation of international law and described it as highly provocative.According to Taiwan, the Chinese vessels involved were a coast guard ship and an oceanographic survey ship. Taiwanese authorities said the two ships carried out what they described as the first coordinated operation intended to provoke... [Continue Reading]
Nepal says it is willing to resolve India boundary tensions through diplomacy
Nepal's foreign minister has said Kathmandu is willing to resolve border tensions with India through diplomacy and an "open-heart" dialogue, after talks in New Delhi with India's external affairs minister. Shishir Khanal said the two sides held detailed and productive discussions on 6 June, and that Nepal wants to build a mutually beneficial relationship for prosperity in both countries. His remarks came as he continued a three-day visit to the Indian capital aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.Khanal said the talks covered the full spectrum of the relationship, including trade, cross-border connectivity, energy partnership, water resources management and people-to-people ties. He... [Continue Reading]
Zelensky honours UPA-linked unit as Poland-Ukraine tensions rise
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a decree giving an elite special forces unit the honorary title "Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army", a move that has sharpened tensions with Poland. The decision has drawn attention because the UPA is associated in Poland with wartime massacres of ethnic Poles and Jews. It comes alongside a separate state ceremony in which the repatriated remains of Andriy Melnyk were reburied with full military honours near Kyiv.According to the decree, signed on 26 May, the title was bestowed on a unit within Ukraine's special forces. The UPA was the armed wing of the... [Continue Reading]
Hegseth criticises European migration policy in Normandy D-Day speech
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has used a D-Day anniversary speech in Normandy to criticise European migration policy, describing migrant arrivals on European beaches as an "invasion". He made the remarks in France on the 82nd anniversary of the Allied landings that helped liberate Nazi-occupied north-western Europe in 1944. The comments were delivered during commemorations in a setting closely associated with wartime sacrifice and transatlantic military cooperation.Hegseth said that "different dangerous ideologies" were now storming "different European beaches", naming Spain, Italy, Greece and Bulgaria. He asked when European capitals would do something about what he called an "invasion", referring to... [Continue Reading]
Israeli strike kills nine, including Lebanese soldiers, near Lebanon border
An Israeli strike in southern Lebanon has killed nine people, including Lebanese soldiers, according to the latest confirmed reporting. The attack took place near the border area as the truce along the frontier came under renewed pressure. It marks a further escalation in a conflict that has repeatedly drawn in Lebanon's regular armed forces alongside Hezbollah-linked fighting.The new toll is higher than earlier reports that said three Lebanese soldiers had been killed in a strike near Kfar Tebnit. The latest account says the dead included members of the Lebanese military, but it does not yet set out the full breakdown... [Continue Reading]
Laos cave rescue halted as conditions worsen for two still missing
Rescuers in Laos have called off the search for two men still trapped in a flooded cave in Xaysomboun province after conditions at the site deteriorated. An international team had already rescued five of the seven villagers who were caught by flash floods in the semi-submerged cave. The latest decision means the operation has shifted away from active searching and towards managing water levels in the cave system.The men became trapped on 20 May when flash floods blocked the exit as they were hunting bats for food and searching for gold in old mining areas, according to state media. Rescue... [Continue Reading]
Fear the Shia, Arm the Sunnis: The Uncomfortable Numbers Behind America’s War Narrative
“When fear is managed carefully enough, a nation can be taught to look away from the blood on the floor and stare instead at the shadow on the wall.” A friend of mine, whose name I will not reveal because he asked me not to, sat across from me over dinner and placed a question on the table that would not leave me alone. He was born into a Muslim Shia background, and for the angle of this article, that detail matters, not because I wish to reduce a man to a sect, but because sect has become one of... [Continue Reading]
GAS, GOD, AND GUNS: The Secret Agenda Behind the Washington Talks and the Death of the Maritime Border
The mahogany tables of the U.S. State Department are hosting a ghost today. As official delegations from Israel and Lebanon convene for a third round of high-stakes negotiations this Friday, May 8, 2026, the air in Washington is thick with the scent of a "peace" that looks increasingly like a strategic ambush. While the world watches the diplomatic theatre, the reality on the ground in Southern Lebanon tells a story of a predatory recalibration. Prime Minister Netanyahu isn’t just looking for a ceasefire; he is aiming to hit three birds with one single, devastating stone: the annexation of land, the... [Continue Reading]
When Deterrence Becomes Reality
Yesterday the war crossed a line! For years the Sejjil ballistic missile existed mostly as a symbol. A weapon paraded in military videos, discussed in defense briefings, whispered about in strategic circles as one of Iran’s most serious capabilities. A weapon that analysts described as deterrence, not something meant to be used. But on March 15, 2026, that line disappeared. Iran reportedly launched the Sejjil (also known as Ashoura) as part of what Tehran called the 54th wave of Operation True Promise 4, a massive strike package that also included the Fattah hypersonic missile and the Qadr ballistic missile system.... [Continue Reading]
The Madness of Power, From Balfour to the Edge of World War Three
A Voice in the Wilderness of War: Who Still Dares to Speak Truth While Empires March There are moments in history when the world suddenly accelerates toward disaster, moments when anyone who has studied history can feel the temperature rising even before the explosions reach their peak. The current escalation in the Middle East is one of those moments. According to the facts we now see unfolding, the United States and Israel made the unilateral decision to attack Iran without the approval of the United Nations, without a global coalition mandate, and without the support of most of the international... [Continue Reading]
The Proving Ground, When “Decent” Reporting Meets High-Tech Warfare
For two decades I have watched wars unfold not only on battlefields, but on screens. Today’s incident over Kuwait, involving the downing of a U.S. F-15 Strike Eagle, is not just another headline in the Iran conflict. It may be a signal that something larger is unfolding behind the noise. Iranian state outlets rapidly circulated imagery of an ejected pilot. Washington responded cautiously. But beneath the spectacle lies a deeper question, whose technology was truly being tested? The Gulf as a live-fire laboratory For years, China has refined export-ready variants of its air defense systems, particularly the HQ-9 family and... [Continue Reading]
WAR CRIMES OR HUMANITY ON LIFE SUPPORT?
The Thin, Bloody Line Between Justice and Jungle Rule IS KILLING WITHOUT MERCY NOW LEGAL? By Anthony Sterling In September 2025, the United States military launched what became known as Operation Southern Spear, a lethal campaign targeting suspected drug smuggling vessels in international waters. The stated objective was to combat narco trafficking networks operating beyond territorial jurisdiction. The ethical shock came on 2 September 2025, when a double strike in the Caribbean left survivors clinging to wreckage for nearly an hour. Drone footage reportedly showed two individuals waving from debris after the first impact. Instead of rescue, three additional munitions... [Continue Reading]
Shadows of Fire: The Long Arc of Iran–United States Tensions
A Region on Edge: The Latest Escalation In recent months, tensions between Iran and the United States have intensified once again, fueled by disputes over regional security, nuclear development, maritime incidents in the Persian Gulf, and the broader strategic balance in the Middle East. Officials in Washington have expressed renewed concern over Iran’s uranium enrichment levels, while leaders in Tehran have accused the United States of economic warfare through sanctions and diplomatic isolation. The fragile equilibrium that followed earlier rounds of indirect negotiations appears increasingly strained, with both sides engaging in sharp rhetoric at the United Nations, reinforcing military postures... [Continue Reading]
Navigating the Perils of Information in a Global Age
Navigating the Perils of Information in a Global Age In today’s world, where information flows ceaselessly and unchecked, the stakes for migrants have never been higher. Critical thinking is not just a skill, it’s a lifeline. The ability to sift fact from fiction, especially in matters as consequential as migration, is essential for individuals, communities, and the institutions that serve them. The migration landscape is uniquely vulnerable to the hazards of mis-, dis-, and mal-information, collectively known as MDM. The consequences of inaccurate or misleading information can ripple far beyond the individual, affecting entire communities and the systems that govern... [Continue Reading]





